Feeding Our Future: the wheels of justice
The full quote goes:
The wheels of justice grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine.
That axiom was on full display this morning at the federal courthouse in downtown Minneapolis. Your correspondent was there.
This morning’s events moved more slowly than usual as only one (1) of the building’s six (6) main elevators were functional.
The occasion was three (3) status conferences held for groups of Feeding Our Future defendants facing trials scheduled for 2025. As is always the case, the news was generated by who wasn’t there.
All of today’s defendants were first indicted back in September 2022, but these cases have languished for the past two years. The purpose of the status conferences is to keep the schedules from slipping any further.
First up were the defendants from the Lake St.-based JigJiga group. As we number them, these are defendants Nos. 36, 37, and 38 in the sprawling free-food case.
The former lead defendant, Liban Alishire (No. 36), entered Guilty Plea No. 6 in the overall case back in January 2023 and has already been convicted.
The ceremonial role of lead defendant has now fallen upon his alleged co-conspirator, Ahmed Ali, No. 37. A Somali-language court interpreter was present for the benefit of Mr. Ali, but the interpreter was never pressed into service during the 20-minute hearing.
Khadar Adan, No. 36, was represented by an attorney this morning. As it happens, Mr. Adan himself was absent today as he is travelling (with court permission) on a 60-day trip to Ethiopia. He is scheduled to return to America on October 17, just in time for the next status conference on October 22.
Mr. Adan’s current trip abroad is his fourth since his indictment in the case.
The duo’s trial is scheduled to begin September 2025.
Next up in court were the remnants of the Lake St.-based S&S Catering group. Once eight defendants strong (Nos. 23 through 30), five from this group have already pled guilty and been convicted.
The lead defendant designation has now fallen to Abdiwahab Mohamud, No. 25. Guhaad Said (No. 26, about whom I’ve written extensively) has also pled not guilty. The third defendant, Abdullahe Jesow (No. 28) was a no show.
You will recall that Mr. Jesow was the defendant who showed up for his guilty plea hearing last month and then proceeded to plead “not guilty.”
Apparently, neither Jesow nor his attorney were made aware of this morning’s court date. The judge replied, “He will be here next time.”
The trio’s trial is scheduled for October 2025.
Finally this morning we had appearances from the extended Jama family, associated with the Brava Restaurant in Rochester.
This group originally contained six members (defendant Nos. 39 through 44), but Fartun Jama (No. 42) died of natural causes last year.
The five extant members were all in court today. Highlights:
Sharmake Jama (No. 39, the lead defendant) was formally arraigned this morning on 14 counts. He pled not guilty.
Asha (No. 41) was arraigned on three counts. She pled not guilty.
Mustafa (No. 43) and his attorney were present this morning. However, a previously scheduled Somali-language interpreter was a no show. As a result, both Mustafa and his attorney were formally excused for the day, though both men stayed as observers.
Finally, Zamzam (No. 44) was arraigned on three counts and pled not guilty. In the category of “it’s a small world,” her attorney is former state Rep. Debra Hilstrom (DFL-Brooklyn Center). Hilstrom served from 2001-2018 but has retired from politics and has returned to her law practice.
The trial for this quintet is scheduled to begin December 2025.
On Thursday (September 12), four (4) status conferences involving a total of ten defendants are scheduled.